Crete is one of the best tourist destinations to explore by car. In fact, there are plenty of options in Crete to rent a car. Take a look at the various ways you can explore the island, and at all of the breathtaking locations you can visit. In the privacy of your own vehicle, you will have access to some of the most beautiful places in the world.
For historians, Crete has a long and rich history. It was under the rule of many different powers, including the Ottoman Turks, the Venetians, the Byzantine Empire and the Romans. It also has great cultural significance as well, being the setting of many famous myths of ancient Greece, including that of Theseus and the Minotaur. Crete is also the birthplace of the famous painter El Greco and the well-known writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Those interested in classical music may be aware that traditional music from Knossos, a tourist destination on Crete, inspired the French composer Erik Satie to compose some of his most haunting and contemplative pieces, the Gnossiennes.
Of all the Greek islands, Crete is the closest to North Africa. It is also the largest, with a population of more than 600,000 inhabitants and an area of 8,336 square kilometers. Its shores are rugged, with deep bays like Kisanos, Chania Souda and Mirabelos and there are many peninsulas such as Rodopos and Akrotiri Sideros. Crete rent car options will allow you to experience the island’s breathtaking coastline and stop to admire the Mediterranean Sea at your leisure.
Crete, although an island, contains very mountainous terrain. It has four main ranges that reach a high point of 2,456 meters above sea level. These mountains are part of the Dinaric mountain system that begins in Slovenia and goes all the way through the western part of the Balkans. Between the ranges are broad valleys with short but deep rivers flowing through them. Rivers include Gioliros, Anapodans, Aposelemis and Kutsulidis. Visit each stunning valley with its flowing river by means of the best Crete rent car options.
The climate of the island is Mediterranean with fairly significant rainfall. It enjoys high but comfortable temperatures, mild winters and warm summers. Snowfall is rare and is considered to be a climactic anomaly in the area. Crete’s vegetation is predominantly composed of evergreen forests and shrubs, with the inclusion of olive trees, orange trees, fig trees and grape vines. There is plenty of farmland, and there are also several deposits of various ores, making mining another stable industry. Most of the resorts on the island are located on the north coast.
